Your Guide to a Successful Inclusive Youth Program

What if every child, regardless of ability, felt they belonged in your sports or activity program? Finding inclusive recreation programs with trained staff is a huge challenge for many parents, and the demand for inclusive after-school activities and sports programs is starting to explode.

This guide offers practical strategies that will equip you and your staff with the tools they need to support participants with high-functioning autism, ADHD, and sensory sensitivities.

With the right tools, your team will be able to:

  • Reduce sensory overload and prevent meltdowns.
  • Improve positive interactions for all participants.
  • Increase participation and engagement.

Providing opportunities for children of all abilities to participate in physical and leisure activities isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s a game-changer for all participants. These programs support a wide range of health and developmental benefits that can last a lifetime.

By understanding strategies to use for children who learn and experience the world differently, your team will be ready to manage challenges, creating a more successful and joyful experience for everyone.

The question is – are you ready to meet the needs of children of all abilities?

Addressing Common Recreation Inclusion Challenges

Knowing what to expect can help you feel more prepared when including neurodivergent students or those with disabilities in your sports and recreation programs. Let’s look at some common challenges and how they might show up in your sessions.

  • Maintaining Engagement
    Activities that are too long or complicated can be difficult for some students to focus on.
  • Structured vs. Unstructured
    Balancing free play with highly structured drills can be a challenge. Some students prefer structure and order, others may prefer a less rigid approach.
  • Processing Instructions
    Giving too many instructions at once, or speaking too quickly, can make it hard for students to follow along. Instructions can also be interpreted literally, so clarity is key.
  • Transitions
    Moving from one activity to the next, or stopping and starting activities in a timely manner, can be hard, and even a source of stress.
  • Motor Coordination
    Challenges with balance, body coordination, and certain movements can make some activities tricky to perform.
  • Social Skills
    It can be difficult for some students to understand how to interact with peers and coaches, or to follow unspoken social rules.
  • Sensory Input
    Overwhelming sensory stimuli—like loud music, uncomfortable uniforms, or background noises—can impact a student’s ability to participate.
  • Self-Stimulatory Behaviors
    Behaviors like repetitive movements, stimming, hand-flapping, fidgeting or rocking are often used for self-regulation. While they’re essential for the student, they can sometimes be seen as distracting to others or not ‘part of’ the activity.

From Concern to Confidence: Navigating the Inclusion Journey

You might be wondering how to manage these challenges effectively, balance the needs of all your students, and still run a smooth session. These are valid concerns, and you’re not alone in having them.

At Swim Angelfish, we consider ourselves experts in adapting approaches and teaching methods. Our OT and PT background brings over 25 years of experience in adaptive education, including extensive time running day and overnight camps. We’ve been in your shoes. We understand these challenges firsthand, and we’ve broken down our unique insights into practical solutions that lead to genuine inclusive success.

Ready to learn how to turn these challenges into opportunities for growth?

Let’s dive into our actionable strategies.

5 Practical Inclusive Solutions for Sports & Rec Programs

While we can’t reveal all our secrets here (that’s what our course is for!), here are 5 practical solutions to transform your approach to inclusion:

  • Understanding Diverse Needs
    Imagine knowing how to quickly identify and support a student with sensory sensitivities, ADHD, or autism spectrum disorder. You can gain valuable insights from your enrollment forms (without labeling anyone) to prepare your staff with adaptive strategies tailored to each child’s unique needs. This foundational knowledge can prevent meltdowns and create a more comfortable environment for everyone.
  • Smooth Transitions
    Moving from one activity to the next can be a huge hurdle for some children. Did you know that using transition tips can decrease discomfort and help a child shift focus more easily? A simple visual schedule can be a game-changer, providing predictability and helping them engage more readily in the next part of the program.
  • Effective Communication & Prompting
    Ever wondered how to gently encourage a child who is hesitant about a new activity without escalating their discomfort? Our strategies teach your staff how to physically and verbally prompt effectively. This includes using fewer words and more targeted gestures, which benefits all participants. Be mindful of literal interpretations: instead of saying, “Don’t run,” try saying, “Walk.” Instead of “Watch your fingers,” try a gesture or a more direct instruction like “Move your fingers back.” Otherwise, it’s likely you’ll see your student literally ‘watch’ their fingers rather than moving them to a different position.
  • Flexible Programming for All
    Sometimes, the best strategy is a bit of flexibility. Empowering your coaches to reorganize groups or extend an activity for a few extra minutes can provide the comfort and adjustment time certain children need. This small adjustment can lead to greater participation and enjoyment for everyone, ensuring no one is left out.
  • Create a Sensory-Friendly Environment
    Think about how to manage the sensory stimuli in your space. This could mean using adjustable lighting, providing noise-cancelling headphones, or having a quiet corner for students who need a break. Being proactive about the environment can significantly reduce sensory overload and make a session more accessible.

Step Up Your Business’ Inclusion Journey

Whether you run a ballet school, soccer training program, martial arts studio, drama club, art classes or are a sports coach these strategies are designed for you. Your program can become autism friendly by adapting to your students’ unique needs.

And if you’re already incorporating adaptive practices, our training complements existing programs by offering a unique perspective from an Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physical Therapy (PT) team. This distinct blend of expertise is what makes our approach so effective and truly unique.

Ready to transform your program’s approach to inclusion, overcome common challenges, and ensure every child has an incredible experience?

Our 2-hour online course, “Strategies for Inclusion Success,” is packed with actionable insights and practical techniques derived from our decades of real-world experience in and out of the water.

Invest in your staff, your students, and the future of your program. Learn more and enroll in “Strategies for Inclusion Success” today!

Ailene Tisser, MA, PT, Founder

Ailene Tisser, a pediatric Physical Therapist with over 30 years of experience and co-founder of Swim Angelfish® and the Swim Whisperers® method, specializes in aquatic therapy and adaptive swim for children with special needs. Trained in NDT, DIR/Floortime, and certified as an Autism Specialist and Primitive Reflex Specialist she fosters water safety, confidence, and independence in her young clients. Ailene is also passionate about educating aquatic professionals, setting a standard of excellence for adaptive aquatics training and professional development.

Cindy Freedman, MOTR, Founder

Cindy, MS, OTR/L is an occupational and recreational therapist with over 30 years of experience specializing in pediatrics and aquatics. Driven by a passion for helping children with special needs reach their full potential, Cindy co-founded Swim Angelfish, an organization dedicated to providing adaptive swim and aquatic therapy services as well as professional training. Her expertise in sensory integration, reflex repatterning, and aquatics, coupled with her love for water and experience as a national champion diver, has enabled her to make a profound impact on the lives of countless children. Cindy is certified as an Autism Specialist by IBCCES, and shows an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of children with special needs.